Beam Installation contractor —
Seattle & Puget Sound.
Beam installation is wall removal's quieter cousin — same engineering, same shoring discipline, applied to ridge beams, drop beams, and reinforcement details.
Beam installation is the structural wall removal's quieter cousin — same engineering, same shoring discipline, applied to ridge beams, drop beams, and reinforcement details. Common scenarios include cathedral ceiling installation, sagging floor joist reinforcement, and bay-window header upgrades.
What we build
SCOPE- 01LVL + glulam beams
- 02Steel I-beam + flitch plate
- 03Ridge + drop beams
- 04Sistered + reinforced joists
- 05Engineer-stamped detail
- 06Permit + inspection
Phased process
PROCESS- 01
Engineering
Structural engineer designs beam size and connection details.
- 02
Permit + shoring
Permit filed; temporary shoring set up to support existing load.
- 03
Install
Beam lifted into pocket or position, columns and connectors set.
- 04
Inspection + finish
Structural inspection, then drywall reset and finish.
Spec sheet
SPEC- +LVL, glulam, or steel beam to engineer spec
- +Simpson Strong-Tie column caps and post bases
- +Plywood gusset plates where required
- +Microllam header or built-up LVL multi-ply
Cost drivers
COST- Beam type and span$1,500 for short LVL → $15K+ for steel structural beam
- Existing structure accessCrawlspace or attic access adds 20–40% to labor
- Finish reset+$2K–$8K for drywall, ceiling, and paint
Codes & permits
COMPLIANCE- IRC R602.7
Header and beam sizing requirements; engineered design required for spans beyond prescriptive tables.
Is beam installation the right call?
- →Cathedral ceiling install (ridge beam)
- →Floor reinforcement (sagging joists, span issue)
- →Bay window or oversized opening header
- →Beam upgrade as part of structural retrofit
Beams questions
FAQQ.01
How is a ridge beam different from a structural wall beam?
A ridge beam carries roof load and is installed at the roof peak — typically the longest and heaviest beam in a house. Structural wall beam carries floor load transferred from above. Engineering is similar; installation logistics differ significantly.Q.02
Do all beam installs need a permit?
Almost always — any structural element requires permit and engineering. The only exception is sister joist reinforcement, which is sometimes treated as repair.
Official resources & sources
- Source ↗WSEC 2021 Residential Energy CodeEnvelope, HVAC, hot-water and air-sealing requirements
- Source ↗WA HB 1110 — Middle housing lawStatewide middle-housing zoning preemption
- Source ↗WA HB 1337 — ADU statewide rulesTwo-ADU baseline, no owner occupancy, parking limits
- Source ↗WA Dept. of Commerce — ADU resources
- Source ↗WA L&I contractor license lookupVerify Golden State ADU Builders Inc · GOLDESA747LZ
- Source ↗Washington State Building Code CouncilStatewide adopted codes (IRC, IBC, WSEC)
Ready to scope your beams project?
Send a paragraph and the address. A licensed PM replies within one business day with next steps.
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